Machine for smoothing shoe linings



April 21, 1925. 1,534,077

A. F. P YM MACHINE FOR SMOOTHING SHOE LININGS Filed Nov. 25, 1921 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 /A/ l/E/V 727/ 7.

April 21, 1925. 1,534,077

A. F. PYM

MACHINE FOR SMOOTHING SHOE LIN INGS 'Filed Nov. 25, 1921 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Apr. 21, 1925,

UNITED STATES earnr ARTHUR F. PYM, OF LYNN, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNGR- "PO assai- FHCE,

UNITED SHOE MACHIN- ERY CORPQRATION, OE .PA'IERSON, NEW JERSEY, A CORPORATION OF NEVT JER- SEY.

MACI-IINE FOR SMOOTHING- SHOE LININGS.

Application filed November 25, 1921.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ARTHUR F. PYM, a subject of the King of England, and resident of Lynn, in the county of Essex and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain Improvements in Machines for Smoothing Shoe Linings, of which the following description, in connection with the acco1npanying drawings, is a specification, like reference characters on the drawings indicating like parts in the several figures.

This invention relates to machines or de vices for applying a smoothing or stretching tension to the materials of shoes after the sole-attaching operation, and is illustrated as embodied in a machine for smooththe linings of shoes which have been turned and relasted.

In making a turn shoe, the lining is outside the remainder of the upper materials when the shoe is stretched over the first last. Consequently after the shoe has been turned right side out, there is sufiicient fullness in the lining to allow it to wrinkle or bunch up when the second last is inserted. It has always been necessary, therefore, to smooth out the lining after the insertion of the second last.

l-leretofore this operation has invariably been performed by hand, the operator holding the shoe in one hand and with the other manipulating a thin blunt-edged implement known as a lining knife. This implement is inserted between the shoe and last, and twisted or oscillated as it is moved about, progressively to'stretch out narrow areas of the lining in a manner to remove the wrinkles or bunches. The operation is nota smoothing operation in the sense that the wrinkles are merely rubbed or flattened down as they are rather removed by progressively stretching out the lining and distributing it more equally about the last. The operation also tends to stretch out the shoe materials generally, in a inanner to remove and distribute any uneven strains introduced by inserting the secend last. It will be appreciated that this smoothing or stretching operation is verv laborious, as only one hand can be used,

Serial No. 517,534.

and the strain of twisting the lining knife all comes on the relatively weak wrist muscles.

In View of these conditions, an object of my invention is to lighten the labor of so stretching out the shoe materials to smooth the lining and for other purposes. From this point of view, therefore, my invention may be regarded as consisting in an organization comprising the combination of a stretching implement such as a lining knife, as such an implement is commonly termed in the trade, with a mounting therefor such as to permit a shoe to be held in both hands when presented thereto, and to eliminate the necessity for twisting the knife by hand. l/Vhile. the illustrated machineeinbodiesa lining knife shaped like those used in the hand operation, the invention is not especially concerned with the specific form of implement used, and the expression lining knife will be used in a generic sense to denote any suitable smoothing or stretcl1 ing instrumentality.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in the accompanying drawings, a lining knife is mounted for a twisting or oscillating motion about a longitudinal axis, and suitable connections from a rotary power shaft are provided for actuating the knife. As a result of the twisting movement of the knife, the lining is smoothed or stretched by movement of the lining relatively to the last and the shoe upper, and the wrinkles are substantially eliminated therefrom. In order to stretch the shoe materials in opposite directions as occasion demands, amanually controlled lever is provided for reversing the direction of the twisting or oscillating motion; and to prevent injury to the work, the knife-actuating connections comprise opposed springs through which the knife is yieldingly operated. In order to adapt the machine for shoes of different sizes and of varying tightness on their-lasts, means is provided under the operators control, for varying the extent of the oscillating movements of the lining knife.

The above and other objects and features of the invention, including specific constructions and combinations of parts, will be apparent from the following description of the embodiment of my invention illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation, and Fig. 2 is a side elevation, of a machine embodying an illustrative form of my invention.

The machine comprises generally a base 10 of any desired form, on which is mounted a head 12 having formed therein a suitable bearing for a rotatable tool holder 1 1. In this holder there is secured, as by set-screws 16, an elongated implement illustrated as a lining knife 18, for stretching out and distributing about a last the lining and other upper materials of a shoe thereon, as above explained.

Clamped about the opposite end of holder 14 is an arm 20, arranged to be oscillated by a link 22 formed with sleeves 2 4 and 26 which engage a pitman 28. In order to avoid. possible injury to a shoe operated on thereby, the lining knife or equivalent implement 18 is arranged to be actuated yieldingly by providing springs 30 and 32 surrouncliiigpitnian 28 and engaging opposite sides of sleeve 2 1. These springs are confined between sleeve 24 and stops 3% and 36 adjustably clamped on pit-man 28, and thus the movement of the pitman is transmitted through the springs and link 22 to the holder and the lining knife mounted therein.

The pitman is reciprocated by a lever 38 which is constantly oscillated by link 40 se cured to a crank pin on gear 42, meshing with a second gear 4 1 on drive shaft as. This shaft is rotated by a suitable pulley d8, or equivalent means, acting through any desired form of clutch such as shown at 50. The clutch is illustrated as being controlled by a treadle 52 which is locked down by bellcrank 54.E until the operator trips the bell-crank by stepping on the projecting arm 56. r

In order to control the .extent and direction of the twisting motions or oscillations imparted to the lining knife 18 by the above,

described mechanism, pitman 28 is arranged to be actuated by different portions of lever 31, at '\'*arying distances from the fulcrum, thus varying the extent of oscillation or throw of the lining knife, and also on opposite sides of the fulcrum, thus changing the direction of the oscillations or twisting motions.

As one way of arranging this in a manner to be controlled by the operator during the operation of the machine, while lea ing both his hands free to manipulate the work, a knee lever may be mounted to turn about fulcrum 62 to recipr cate a rack (Set by means of pinand-slotconnection. A pinion 66 meshing with this rack transmits its motion through shaft 68 to a pinion 70 which is mounted concentrically with respect to the axis about which lever 38 turns. Pinion 7U meshes with a. curved rac t 72 sliding in an undercut groove in lever litman 28- is connected to the center of this curved rack at 74;. Thus motion of the lance lever is utilized to slide rack 72 back and diate point this connection 74lwill aline with shaft 68, so that there will be no motion of pitman 28. i

In practice, clutch 50 is usually actuated only to stop and start the machine at the beginning and end of a run of work suchas a rack of relasted shoes. sented successively to the machine by the operator, who has both hands free to manipulate them. The lining knife is entered be tween the last and shoe with connection 7% at its intermediate or idle position, and lever (50 is then operated to move this connection to one side or other of shaft 68 to any desired extent, whereupon a twisting or oscillating motion is yieldingly imparted to lining knife 18. i

.Asis well known to those skilled .in the art, it usual to twist a lining knife in opposite directions at times when operating on a shoe, as it is more effective to turn it away from awrinkle which is being removed, and this may be accomplished on the illustrated machine by manipulating lever 60 to move connection 7% to opposite sidcsof shaft 68.

\Vhile one form of my invention has been illustrated and described, it is not my intention to limit its scope thereby, or otherwise than by the terms of the appended claims.

Having described my invention what I claim as new and desire. to secure by Letters Patent of the United States isc-e 1. In a machine for smoothing the linings of relasted shoes, in combination, a member constructed and arranged to be inserted between a last and a shoe completely rclastcd thereon, and a mounting for said member constructed and arranged to enable the member to be operated to smooth out the lining of a shoe and to permit a shoe .to be held in both hands when presented in position to be operated upon by said member. j

2. In a machine for smoothing the linings of relasted shoes, in combination, a member to be inserted between a last and a shoe thereon, and means yieldingly to twist said member to smooth out the lining of the shoe.

In a machine for smoothing the linings of relast d. shoes, in combination, a member to be inserted between a last and a shoe The shoes are prclit] thereon and constructed and arranged to permitrelative movement of the shoe and said member While the machine is operating to smooth the lining and to transfer the point of operation of said member to different parts of the shoe, and manually controlled power means to operate said member to smooth out the lining of the shoe.

4:. In a machine for operating on relasted shoes, in combination, a flat member to be inserted between a last and a shoe thereon, and means to twist said member back and forth about a longitudinal axis to stretch out and smooth the lining of the shoe.

5. In a machine for operating on shoes, in combination, an elongated lining knife constructed and arranged to enter between a last and a shoe after the shoe has been completely relasted thereon and to project a substantial distance into the inside of the shoe, a rotary shaft, and connections from said shaft to operate the knife to smooth out the lining of a shoe.

6. In a machine for operating on shoes, in combination, a lining knife, a power shaft, and connections including opposed springs yieldingly to twist the knife back and forth about its axis.

7. In a machine for use in making shoes, in combination, means engageable with the exterior of a last progressively to engage and stretch or smooth out various portions of the lining of a shoe on the last, and operatorcontrolled mechanism to actuate said means.

8. In a machine for use in making shoes, i combination, an oscillatory member constructed and arranged to engage and smooth out the lining of a substantially finished shoe, mechanism to oscillate said member, and operator-controlled, means to vary the extent of the oscillations.

9. In a machine for use in making shoes, in combination,. a member to engage and smooth out the lining of a shoe, mechanism to oscillate said member, and operator-controlled means to vary the direction of the oscillations with respect to a neutral posi tion.

10. In a machine for use in making shoes, in combination, a member to engage and smooth out the lining of a shoe, mechanism to oscillate said member, and operator-controlled means to vary the extent and direction of the oscillations.

11. In a machine for use in making shoes, in combination, a holder mounted for oscillation about a longitudinal axis, and a readily-detachable instrumentality carried there by and arranged to engage the inside of a shoe and be oscillated back and forth While inside the shoe.

12. In a machine for operating on shoes, in combination, a lining knife, a rotary shaft, connections from said shaft to oscillate the knife about a longitudinal axis to smooth out the lining of a shoe, and a manually-operable device to control said connections to vary the extent of the oscillations. I 7

13. In a machine for operating on shoes, in combination, a lining knife, a rotary shaft, connections from said shaft to oscillate the knife about a longitudinal axis to smooth out the lining of a shoe, and a manually-operable device to control said connections to vary the direction of the oscillations.

H. In a machine for operating on shoes, in combination, a lining knife, a rotary shaft, connections from said shaft to oscillate the knife about a longitudinal axis to smooth out the lining of a shoe, and a manually-operable device to control said connections to vary the extent and direction of the oscillations.

15. A machine of the class described comprising, in combination, an elongated member successively to engage a series of restricted areas of the inside of a substantially finished shoe, and means to rock said member about a longitudinal axis as it engages each such area tostretch the shoe materials engaged thereby.

16. A machine of the class described comprising, in combination, means engageable 'with the exterior of a last for imparting a series of stretching impulses against the inside of a shoe on the last, and operatorcontrolled means to vary the extent of the impulses.

1'7. A machine of the class described comprising, in combination, means engageable with the exterior of a last for imparting a series of stretching impulses against the inside of a shoe on the last, and operatorcontrolled means to vary the direction of the impulses.

18. A machine of the class described comprising, in combination, means engageable with the exterior of a last for imparting a series of stretching impulses against the in side of a shoe 011 the last, and operatorcontrolled means to vary the extent and direction of the impulses.

19. A machine for operating on shoes after the soles have been attached to the upper materials and While the shoes are on their lasts comprising, in combination, mechanically-actuated.means to engage and stretch the upper materials successively at opposite sides of the shoe, and auxiliarymanuallyoperable means to control the operation thereof.

20. 11 machine for operating on shoes after the soles have been attached to the upper materials and While the shoes are on their lasts, comprising, in combination, a member to engage a restricted area of a shoe and movable in a direction to apply tension to the shoe materials, and a mounting therefor per- &

mitting relative movement of said member and a shoe progressively to apply tension to Widely separated parts of the shoe materials.

2-1. A device for smoothing the lining of a i-elasted turned shoe comprising, in comhination, an elongated lining knife to be inserted beween a shoe and u last, after the shoe has been completely relasted and 3 mounting for said knife permitting an op erator manually to present a shoe thereto and move it about relatively thereto, propressively to smooth the linin In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

ARTHUR F. PYM. 

